Fr. Marcel's Bulletin Message for the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Today’s Gospel taken from Luke 19: 1-10 tells us a beautiful story of a tax-collector named Zacchaeus and his encounter with the Lord. Jesus was on a journey which must take him through Jericho. Jericho was a wealthy and important city. It had a great palm forest and gardens of roses that were known far and wide then. Products from the city were taken to world-wide trade and fame. It was a great city of commerce; so these made Jericho one of the greatest taxation centers in Palestine. Tax-collectors usually over tax the people and this made them rich. Zacchaeus was one of those tax-collectors. But he wasn’t an ordinary tax-collector; he was a tax-collector who had reached the top of his profession. He was at the peak of his career. He had made lots of money and had become rich and wealthy. But despite his wealth, he was the most hated in the district. He was wealthy and deeply unhappy at the same time. He and many other tax-collectors were working for the Roman government- the Jews most hated enemy. As if that was not enough, they would over-tax the people, submit the actual amount demanded by the Roman government and then share the rest. And people knew what they were doing. The system of checks and balance was not in place then. In the district and in the neighborhood, Zacchaeus and his households were hated, avoid, abused and cursed by people. He was the saddest man! But then, Zacchaeus heard about Jesus. He heard that Jesus does not discriminate against anyone. He heard that Jesus welcomes sinners, tax-collectors and even prostitutes. And he heard that Jesus was passing by and decided to cease the moment. Rejected and unloved by all, Zacchaeus decided to reach out to the love of God.

On getting to the street, he was not able to see Jesus because he was a short man; and the crowd of haters made it impossible for him to see Jesus. But he refused to be hindered by those hindrances. He refused to let the hostile attitude of the people to prevent him from achieving his mission. There was something much more important than the pains and sufferings of the present age. So, he ran ahead and climbed a Sycamore tree so that he could see Jesus when he passes by. Things were not easy for him but the little man was determined to make it. He made concerted effort to see Jesus. He wanted to demonstrate to Jesus and to the community that he was a changed man. When Jesus came to the spot, he looked up and said to him: “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” Jesus was seemingly saying him: “Zacchaeus, I have seen your effort, your desperation to be saved. Just come down! What you are looking for from the top of that tree will be your guest tonight. What you longed for will not be given to you in bits; you will have it in abundance.”

Scripture tells us that “In his riches man lacks wisdom” but not Zacchaeus. He was able to set aside his wealth and riches and sought after the REAL THING. Imagine a wealthy man climb a road-side tree just to see a carpenter’s son. But then, the carpenter’s son, Jesus, had something which all our education, money, good position, political connection, fancy looks, comfortable lifestyle cannot offer. He is Life and the Giver of the Real Life. 

The Christian Faith disturbs us! It demands something from us. To make heaven, one must make an effort. Zacchaeus made an effort to see the Lord and his effort was handsomely rewarded. If we make an effort to look for the Lord, we will find him. We will see him in our lives, hearts and souls. Let Jesus in and let salvation in. Never think you are finished! You are not! In the house Zacchaeus Jesus declares “The Son of Man has come to seek and save the lost.” Jesus came for the weak, and not the strong. He came for the sick, not the healthy. He came to call sinners, and not the righteous!